View SlideshowRequest to buy this photoNeal C. LauronJared Sullinger of Ohio State goes up for a shot against Kentucky in the first half. He was held to 2-of-8 shooting from the field in the first half.

Harrellson gives Kentucky sizable force in the middle -

NEWARK, N.J. - Jared Sullinger was asked Thursday how he'd feel if Kentucky did not double-team
him in the post in last night's East Regional semifinal.

"I'd probably have a big smile on my face from ear to ear because I haven't gotten that in a
long time," Sullinger said.

Kentucky mostly did guard Sullinger man-to-man last night, but in the first half the advantage
went to Kentucky. Josh Harrellson, a 6-foot-10, 275-pound senior, had the bulk to keep Sullinger
from bulling his way to the basket.

Sullinger made only 2 of 8 shots in the first half, though he made all six attempts from the
free-throw line.

Harrellson proved to be a beast at the offensive end, as well. He made 6 of 8 shots for 12
points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half.

He and Sullinger had a potentially touchy moment when Harrellson heaved the ball off Sullinger's
chest to avoid falling out of bounds with the ball. A media timeout followed, and Sullinger said,
"All right, all right," as if he was determined to get payback.

It didn't happen in the first half.

Harrellson has been a pleasant surprise for the Wildcats this year after playing only 88 minutes
a year ago.

He was briefly a recruiting target of Ohio State. Harrellson played one year at Southwestern
Illinois Junior College, and OSU coach Thad Matta was aware of him.

"I never saw him play," Matta said. "We had inquired. I remembered the name, and I was like, 'I
know we were going to recruit this kid.' But he signed with Kentucky, and I never talked to
him."

Harrellson expressed some regret that he didn't give Ohio State much of a look.

"I didn't really look into too many schools besides Kentucky and (hometown) Saint Louis U.,"
Harrellson said. "I should have looked into more schools, but I am happy with the decision I made.
I think I made the right decision. But Ohio State is a great school, and it was tough to kind of
just push them away like that."

Matta praises Calipari

John Calipari may be a lightning rod - a slick-talking coach of teams that twice have been found
guilty of NCAA violations that vacated Final Four appearances (though the violations weren't blamed
on Calipari).

But Matta has nothing bad to say about Calipari.

"He's helped me out tremendously along the way of my coaching career," Matta said. "I'm indebted
to him for what he's done."

Calipari knows Matta through their connection to Sean Miller, now the Arizona coach. Calipari
recruited Miller, then a star point guard, to Pittsburgh. Miller and Matta were assistant coaches
together at Miami University in the mid-1990s.

When Matta was up for the Xavier job in 2001, Calipari called Xavier athletic director Mike
Bobinski to offer a recommendation.

"What I said was, you will get a guy that will recruit players, will coach players, get the
players to play hard and help you get the program to that level that you are competing and trying
to win national titles," Calipari said. "And I believe that. He's a terrific coach and a terrific
recruiter. I'm happy I made that call."